Baptist Board Debate Forum

Unfortunately, I think the posters who keep these going actually enjoy the conflict they are in, and enjoy expressing their opinions, and would lose interest in the BBS if it weren't allowed.

 

At one point we actually had a formal debate forum that was formatted similar to your proposal. We did not, however, have any judging on the debate that did appear. After one debate, it died for lack of interest.

 

My suggestion is that whether it is a debate forum, or just plain argumentation, that there be rules of respect.

No side will:
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• insinuate about the salvation of the other ;</font>
• post comments, innuendoes, scenarios disparaging directly or indirectly to the denomination, deity, or personalities of the other ;</font>
• refrain from sarcasm and endeavor to speak with grace in their lips.</font>

 

This actually says that no poster should avoid sarcasm, and no poster should endeavor to speak with grace in his or her lips.

 

I think with the open forums, more people get involved. With a limited forum, only those who think they are more competent to debate would engage.

I like to read what the common Christian has to say, rather than the "experts", quite frankly. I live with the common Christians.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Kind of agree - I usually have time to "pop and post" several times a day, but don't know that I would want to get involved in a real debate that took work.

I like the "fun and fellowship" aspect of the BB.

 

I'm with Jim and C4K!

There! That makes three in a row in the affirmative! Robert's Rules of Order say that the "Affirmatives" have it!

And with Jim, too--in the fact that sometimes we find out that the experts aren't really experts and that its the common person who gives an answer that you can just tell came from a head that is level and you don't have to go around guessing, "Is this guy smokin' somethin' or had he just gone 5 days without sleep??"

Blackbird

 

Well, you know the definition of expert. X the letter of unknown quantity; spurt, a drip under pressure. That makes an expert and unknown drip under pressure.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I don't know. I would like to see Sue and Granny Gumbo go head to head on the Word Up Thread.

 

She'd win! She's VERY smart. I put the "window" up on my screen and work on it for hours sometimes...especially if it's got lotsa letters. I look thru' my lil dictionary beside me for help to make words, going thru' the whole alphabet. I keep paper there too to write out words. It's a challenge, but I've loved doing it for years.

I think sometimes I repeat myself on words, as I don't go back to check, and sometimes they all start running together, especially if I'm tired. One day several stopped by and added words for me.

My greatest dred is to go ahead & click "add reply" & there sits one already done...she did it to me the other nite! I like to see other folks working on it too, as that way I don't feel like I'm hogging it all the time, even tho' I AM the keeper of the gate to the gameroom.

 

I'm in general agreement with you, especially about the third one. I've never understood why some believers are unable to debate with respect and courtesy. It's really not that hard to do. In fact, I've seen threads (here and elsewhere) where the poster(s) actually scoff at humility, patience, respect, and kindness as though they were indications of timidity or weakness. Verses that command us to defend our faith with gentleness and love are regularly ignored, while passages where Paul (or someone else) speaks bluntly are cited fairly frequently as justification for Christians using insults and sarcasm. I'm not saying that I'm any better; I don't have the time in my schedule to actively post and debate, or I probably would be guilty of similar self-indulgence. But I do know that one-upmanship, self-interest, and ego are not what should drive believers in their debates. I want to know the truth and learn all I can about the Christian walk, not pummel fellow believers with my verbal skills, showing how glib or flippant I can be. I can go to secular message boards to do that.

 

I personally don't like to post when there seems to be a debate between just two or three people with long posts and bible verses back and forth and nobody budging an inch. I get bored with the argument. I don't like to argue with anyone for long. I like to state what I think and feel and be done with it. If someone wants to debate on some light subject, I may be open for it, and I like to use sarcasm as it can lighten things up, but these long theological subjects turn me off.
I'm one of those commom people who doesn't like to get into the sermon type post.
To many people try to pound their beliefs into your head. Now, I'm always open to change if anyone can show me that my thinking is wrong, but I don't want it beat into me and I don't want to be belittled because of my gender.